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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
InventorsLouis Kovach, Cressie E. Holcombe
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The present invention relates to a composition particularly suitable for as structural components subject to high-temperature environments containing gaseous hydrogen and fluorine. The composition of the present invention consists essentially of lanthanum hexaboride-molybdenum diboride with dispersed silicon. The composition is formed by hot pressing a powder mixture of lanthanum hexaboride as the major constituent and molybdenum disilicide. This composition exhibits substantial resistance to thermal shock and corrosion in environments containing hydrogen and fluorine gases at material surface temperatures up to about 1850.degree. K. Upon exposure of the hot-pressed composition to high-temperature environments containing fluorine gases, a highly protective layer of lanthanum trifluoride containing dispersed molybdenum is formed on exposed surfaces of the composition.
A composition for use as a structural material in a high-temperature gaseous-fluorine containing environment, said composition consisting essentially of lanthanum hexaboride,, silicon-substituted lanthanum hexaboride and molybdenum diboride, said composition being characterized by being essentially resistant to thermal shock and corrosion from the gaseous fluorine at material surface temperatures greater than 1400.degree. K.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.